Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another.
I. Disunion may exist in a Christian community.
II. Entire sympathy with Christ will heighten man’s appreciation of man without selfseeking.
III. Christianity is the only humanizing and fraternizing religion. Iv. Self-seeking is in utter antagonism to the spirit of Christ.
V. Christianity never encourages a degrading view of human nature.
1. Paul’s appeal is for unanimity.
2. Want of unanimity is a reflection on the uniting force. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Vainglory
I. What it is. A branch of pride which makes men refer all they have or can do to show their own private glory and advancement.
II. Why the Galatians were admonished of it? They Were adorned with many excellences, and those who are so favoured are frequently the most vainglorious (2 Corinthians 12:7; Matthew 6:5). Other vices feed on evil; this on good. For a man will be proud sometimes, even because he is not proud.
III. Where is it to be found?
1. In a Church where men make a great show of piety to be praised of men, but not at home to be praised of God.
2. In the world, for honour and renown.
IV. What is the remedy?
1. Meditation on these facts.
(1) God resisteth the proud, etc. (1 Peter 5:5).
(2) It is the work of the devil to puff up that he may pull down; but God abases that He may exalt.
(3) Vainglory is a sure mark of impiety (John 5:44).
2. Practice.
(1) Acknowledge God’s majesty and our own vileness.
(2) God’s grace and our own indebtedness.
(3) Approve ourselves to God first.
(4) When reviled, be content; when praised, take heed. (W. Perkins.)
Vainglory
I. Manifests itself in--
1. Display.
2. Boasting.
3. Presumption.
4. Insolence.
5. Depreciation of others.
II. Springs from--
1. Conceit.
2. Ignorance.
3. Contempt of man.
4. Forgetfulness of God.
III. Leads to--
1. Extravagance.
2. Dishonesty.
3. Humiliation,
4. Ruin. (J. W. Burns.)
Unworthy boasts
It would be consolatory could we think this exhortation, though necessary in the apostles’ time, had become unnecessary in ours. But, alas, how different is the truth! How much vainglorying is there among the professors of the name of Christ, even among those of whom charity obliges us to hope that their profession is genuine! How do they glory in their distinctions! One boasts of his connection with a rich and powerful, ancient and venerable establishment; another glories in his being a Dissenter. One boasts of the imposing splendour, and another glories in the primitive simplicity, of their respective modes of worship. Even far less discernible marks of distinction become grounds of glorification, and this provokes to angry controversy, and this again produces strife, jealousy, enmity, malignity. Were we more spiritual it would be otherwise. We should glory chiefly in the grand principles of Christian truth, in which all really good men are agreed; and our attachment to these would produce attachments to all who really believe them. While every man sought after, and endeavoured to communicate to his brother those views of truth and duty which he conceived he had obtained from his Bible--“speaking the truth in love”--there would be no provoking one another, except to love and good works; and instead of envying and hating one another, there would be general edification of the body in love. (John Brown, D. D.)
Love of vainglory
Love of vainglory is a common vice the whole world through, in all conditions. No village so small but there be one or two peasants therein, that will fain be taken for wiser and better than the rest. It is so pleasant to be pointed at with the finger and hear it said: “See, there is a man that is fit for anything!” This vice is common, yet nowhere does it such harm as to those who fulfil a spiritual function and service in the Church. (Luther.)
Vainglory
I recollect a little town where there was a chapel, the people connected with which thought that if they could only buy a chandelier that was on sale, they would cut out all the other chapels entirely, and everybody would feel that they were made weighty and respectable people, and that the place would be filled with people to see the chandelier. I believe for a time it was, but its light grew dim, and they found that was not the way in which the light of the kingdom of God was to be spread. (C. H. Spurgeon.)